Tired of studying for midterms? Need to escape the mundane going-out routine of frat parties and Smoke's? Feeling artsy, but don't want to trek down to the Philly Art Museum or spend gobs of dough at Kimmel Center shows? If you answered yes to any of these questions, get out of your room and head over to some of these great student performing arts events. Trade Facebook procrastination for something culturally enlightening. at least for a night or two.
Front Row Theatre Company Presents Loot
Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center
3680 Walnut St.
Tonight-Sat, 8 p.m., $10, $8 with PennCard
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~ftc
Loot tells the story of two friends who rob a bank and then hide the money in Hal's mother's coffin. A disguised policeman arrives to investigate, and the result is a humorously chaotic show. The student run production presents socially relevant commentary in an entertaining and thought-provoking manner. Money in the coffin? It's so absurd, it's genius.
The Underground Shakespeare Company Presents Othello
Rooftop Lounge, Harnwell College House
3910 Irving St.
Tonight-Sat, 8 p.m., $3
www.undergroundshakespeare.com
For those of us whose high school English curriculums consisted of reading virtually all of Shakespeare's classics except for Othello, here's our chance to find out what we missed. Othello contains the noted Shakespearean set-up, filled with intrigue from the beginning and to end with the self-inflicted death of the title character. Check out the Underground Shakespeare Co.'s performance, and fill that gap in your Shakespearean education.
Penny Loafers Present: The Great Wall of a China
Dunlop Auditorium, Stemmler Hall
3450 Hamilton Walk
Fri-Sat, 8 p.m., $7 on walk, $10 at door
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~loafers
For some reason, at Penn, not all performing arts groups were created equally. In the world of Penn a capella, there's one group that seems to get all the love from the University, and it's the Penny Loafers. The group sings their rock and pop ditties at freshman convocation, alumni and admission events and Parent's Weekend. Check out the Penny Loafer's fall show, and see if you can figure out what all the fuss is about.
Sparks Dance Co. & Penn Masala Present: Mixin' It Up
Iron Gate Theatre
37th & Chestnut Sts.
Fri-Sat, 8 p.m., $8 on walk, $10 at door
www.pennmasala.com
www.sparksdancecompany.com
If you were to ask me what I think goes best with a dance performance, for sure my answer would be "all-male Indian a cappella music." Thanks to Sparks and Penn Masala, my dream is finally coming true. Given Sparks's eclectic routine of modern dance styles and Masala's sizzling renditions of Indian music, this show will cover all the bases, and then some.
onda latina presents: dancing with the onda stars
Irvine Auditorium
37th & Spruce Sts.
Sat, 8:30 p.m., $7 on walk, $9 at door
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~latroupe
Onda Latina, Penn's only Latin dance group, fills a needed niche in our performing arts world. We've got an Israeli dance group, separate male and female South Asian dance troupes, and an African dance company, so why not a Latin dance troupe? Check out Onda's show, and change the fact that the only contact with Latin culture you get is through your exotic spring break setting.
